Thirty seconds after reading about the NCAA's decision Monday, Penn State linebacker Mike Hull received a text announcing a team meeting. Twitter had beaten the coaches to the news.

"Social media nowadays," Hull said.

Less than 30 minutes later, the Lions met at the Lasch Football Building to hear the news from coach James Franklin. The NCAA had lifted Penn State's bowl ban, meaning the team would be eligible for postseason play. That includes a potential trip to the Big Ten title game if it wins the East Division title.

Franklin pulled the upperclassmen who stayed with the program in 2012 to the front of the room, where they received cheers from teammates. Safety Ryan Keiser called the moment one of "pure excitement" and "just joy."

"It was pretty cool," senior safety Ryan Keiser said. "Guys who stuck with it were there in front of the whole team. It means a lot to us to have this back. We've been through it all. We're really thankful and appreciative."

Hull, a redshirt junior, was among those players as well. He considered transferring in 2012 after the NCAA announced its sanctions, which included a four-year bowl ban and scholarship reductions.

At the time, Hull said, players were uncertain about the program's future. But then most of the senior class stayed, and players bought into their message.

"We felt like we could keep this thing going, keep this a respectable program at least in the next couple of years," Hull said. "It's worked out the best it possibly could."

Hull also praised three of his head coaches (Franklin, Bill O'Brien and Tom Bradley) for helping the team navigate the last three years.

"It wasn't easy for any of the guys to take over in the position we were in," Hull said. "They all did their part, and we owe them a lot."

Perhaps more important than a bowl game, Penn State also is eligible to compete for the Big Ten title, That added another layer to Saturday's Big Ten opener against Rutgers, which already is forming into a rivalry.

Hull said that, until Monday, the team played for itself, the fans and the university. Now, they have added incentive.

"It's a pretty cool feeling, for myself and a lot of the other seniors," Hull said. "It was kind of a weird feeling, just to know that you could play for a championship again, something other than for each other. It was a really good feeling just to know that. I think a lot of guys on the team are excited about it."

Added Keiser, "I'm proud of the guys for sticking together who were here and of those who weren't here yet who still came and wanted to keep Penn State where it was. We're excited where we can take this in the future."

Today is a memorable day for these young men! The men who stayed together for each other! Today Penn State is back! pic.twitter.com/GoZXRLwL1X